Vanilla Spice® Summersweet is a fragrant native flowering shrub prized for its large white summer flower spikes, glossy green foliage, and excellent pollinator value. Blooming in midsummer when many other shrubs are finished, it brings fresh color, fragrance, and wildlife appeal to foundation plantings, rain gardens, woodland edges, and mixed shrub borders throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine.
This easy-care shrub is especially useful for moist landscape areas and is a strong choice for customers wanting summer flowers, fragrance, and deer resistance.
Key Features
Fragrant white summer flowers Native flowering shrub Excellent butterfly and bee plant Great for moist soils and rain gardens Deer resistant and low maintenance Useful in sun or part shade
Specs
Mature Height: 3–6 ft
Mature Width: 3–5 ft
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Growth Rate: Moderate
Zone: 4a; 4b; 5a; 5b; 6a; 6b; 7a; 7b; 8a; 8b; 9a
Form: Upright / rounded
Spacing Guidance
4–5 ft on center Plant 3–5 ft from structures
Why Clethra (Summersweet) Belongs in Your Landscape
Fragrant Summer Blooms - Sweetly scented flower spikes bloom in mid-to-late summer when most other shrubs have finished flowering
Thrives Where Others Struggle - Tolerates wet soil, shade, and even coastal salt spray better than most ornamental shrubs
Pollinator Favorite - Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout its long bloom window
Shrubs Grown to Perform in New England
At Pro Growers of New England, our shrubs are grown and maintained locally to perform in true New England conditions. From flowering varieties to evergreen foundation plants, each shrub is properly spaced, pruned, and cared for to develop strong root systems and balanced structure before it ever reaches your landscape.
Unlike large online sellers that ship plants long distances, we invite you to visit our nursery, walk the rows, and inspect the exact shrubs available. You can see the size, health, and fullness in person — ensuring there are no surprises upon delivery.
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Randy Cheney
I was very happy with my experience! Pro Growers are not only a quality outfit, but they have the best prices hands down!
Pro Growers of New England, Inc
Randy Cheney
Top notch service and product quality. I didn’t know what to expect seeing the ads on Facebook, so I went to the greenhouse. They had a wonderful variety of products and a very helpful staff. The delivery and installers were fast, neat and friendly. Pro Growers will be me go to for now on!
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Cynthia Boardman
Starting with the owner, who gave us expert advice, along with a great group of installers, this company was a pleasure to work with.
Fair prices and great product. You can’t go wrong
Installation Service ($25)
Kayla Sem
Easy ordering, delivery and installation! Highly recommend ordering from Pro Growers of New England.
Green Giant Arborvitae
sara garcia
Great price, fast delivery. Thank you!!
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Growzone Finder
It helps us recommend plants that are best for your local climate, based on your growing zone. Also, because we ship plants based on when they are best for your local climate, it allows us to give you a more accurate estimate of when your order will ship.
Top notch service and product quality. I didn’t know what to expect seeing the ads on Facebook, so I went to the greenhouse. They had a wonderful variety of products and a very helpful staff. The delivery and installers were fast, neat and friendly. Pro Growers will be me go to for now on!
